An Investigation of the Relationship between Reading Comprehension, Vocabulary Knowledge, and English Language Proficiency Level of Saudi EFL Learners - Article

Oct 15, 2026

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The study explores how vocabulary breadth (the number of known words) and vocabulary depth (the richness of word knowledge) relate to reading comprehension in Saudi EFL learners. It also examines whether learners’ English proficiency level influences both breadth and depth of lexical knowledge and their reading comprehension. Data from two vocabulary tests and a multiple-choice reading comprehension test, administered to seventy-five intermediate and advanced English Translation majors, show significant positive relationships between vocabulary dimensions and reading performance.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages11

Reading Time28 min

AccessFree to download

Abstract

Introduction

Vocabulary as a key factor in language learning

Vocabulary learning challenges for EFL learners

Vocabulary knowledge and reading ability

Advances in Language and Literary Studies ISSN: 2203-4714 [www.alls.aiac.org.au](www.alls.aiac.org.au) | An Investigation of the Relationship between Reading Comprehension, Vocabulary Knowledge, and English Language Proficiency Level of Saudi EFL Learners
Huda Suleiman Al Qunayeer*
Department of English language and Translation, College of Arts and Sciences, Unaizah, Qassim University, KSA Corresponding Author: Huda Suleiman Al Qunayeer, [E-mail:](E-mail: hknieaier@qu.edu.sa)[ hknieaier@qu.edu.sa](E-mail: hknieaier@qu.edu.sa) | | | --- | --- | | ARTICLE INFO | ABSTRACT
The present study is an attempt to explore the relationship between the breadth (the number of words known) and the depth of vocabulary knowledge (the richness of word knowledge) (the richness of word knowledge), and reading comprehension of EFL learners in an English as a foreign language (EFL) context. Furthermore, it tries to find the effect of language proficiency level of learners on the breadth and the depth of lexical vocabulary and reading comprehension of Saudi EFL learners. The participants of the study were seventy-five intermediate and advanced level majoring in English Translation at Qassim University in KSA. The level of language proficiency of participants had been checked through an OPT by the department in advance. To collect the relevant data, two tests measuring breadth and depth of vocabulary knowledge were administered to all participants. They also received a reading comprehension test in which they were asked to read the passages and answer some multiple-choice questions. The findings obtained from the analysis of the data indicated that there is a significant relationship between breadth and depth of vocabulary knowledge and Saudi advanced/intermediate EFL learner’s reading comprehension performance totally. The results further revealed that both dimensions of vocabulary knowledge are positively correlated, that is, those learners who had large vocabulary size had a deeper knowledge of the words, too. The results further showed that language proficiency level of learners have an effect on Saudi EFL learners’reading performance and vocabulary knowledge. These results confirm the importance and the value of developing students‟ breadth and depth of vocabulary knowledge in EFL classrooms. | | Article history
Received: January 15, 2021
Accepted: March 26, 2021
Published: April 30, 2021
Volume: 12 Issue: 2
Advance access: April 2021 | | | Conflicts of interest: None
Funding: None | | | Key words:
Vocabulary Breadth,
Vocabulary Depth, Reading Comprehension, Proficiency | | INTRODUCTION It is irrefutable fact that vocabulary plays a crucial role in the process of language learning (Afshari and Tavakoli, 2016) . Vocabulary knowledge is the building block of learning a second language and the degree of success for learning any language depends on the amount of vocabulary a learner possesses. vocabulary is one of the most fundamental and significant components for foreign and second language comprehensibility. It is necessary in the sense that words are the basic building blocks of language, the unit of meaning from which larger structures such as sentences, paragraphsand whole texts are formed (Goossens et al., 2012) . As Wilkins (1972) states,“without grammar very little can be conveyed, without vocabulary nothing can be conveyed”(p. 111) . However, learning a new language simply cannot be done without absorbing vocabulary.‘Vocabulary learning isnot a goal in itself; it is done to help learners listen, speak, read or write more effectively (Altalhab, 2019) . This suggests that vocabulary is an essential element in developing language skills. Although vocabulary is one of the most important components of language learning, many students see vocabulary as one of the most difficult aspects of learning a foreign language. They see vocabulary learning as boring, as they have to memorize unfamiliar word

FAQs

What vocabulary factors does the study focus on?

The study focuses on vocabulary breadth (number of known words) and vocabulary depth (richness of word knowledge).

How does vocabulary knowledge relate to reading comprehension?

The findings indicate a significant relationship between vocabulary breadth and depth and Saudi EFL learners’ reading comprehension performance.

Does language proficiency level affect vocabulary and reading results?

Yes. The results show that learners’ language proficiency level affects both reading performance and vocabulary knowledge.

Oct 15, 2026

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